Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who was offered a place in a local secondary school following a section 29 appeal, but had that place withdrawn following a judicial review by the school and a second section 29 appeal; if he will seek clarification in the courts as to the procedure of the section 29 appeal, school admission policies and waiting list management procedures; his plans to bring in new policy and legislation on the issue of schools discriminating against children based on their faith or religion; if such policy will also consider the situation of children who have moved to an area from elsewhere, including overseas, and therefore are at a disadvantage when applying to schools that run waiting lists over a number of years; the agenda for this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27491/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy, that the Department has no legal powers to challenge a determination from a section 29 committee unless the school in question is not acting in accordance with the determination of the appeals committee.

The Deputy will be aware that I have recently launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The document, "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent and I am inviting education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department by the 28th of October.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the NEWB are NEWB, Block 3 South Dublin County Council, Tallaght, Dublin 24, telephone 01-4635513